[JamesP81]

McCain had a Yosemite Sam moment early in the debate as he vowed to deposit Osama bin Laden into the gates of hell.

I don't see anything wrong with this in principle...

[Right Cal Gal]

Odd...he doesn’t mention the absolutely STUPID questions they were asked and how that relates to current national issues.

Probably because they got the questions from Katie Couric.

[Vigilanteman]

John McCain made the biggest strategic move of the night, reaching back out to the center with a blunt appraisal of the Bush administration’s many mistakes in the Iraq war and expressing strong support for stem cell research.

How pathetic. He still thinks he can elevate his fading candidacy by poking a stick in the eye of his base.

[angkor]

The bottom line: 90 minutes, 10 candidates, no knockouts, no big changes.

The bottom line: 90 minutes, 10 candidates, no debate, no answers, no dignity, no shame.

[TennTuxedo]

This is exactly why the media pushed for the campaign to begin early and what the media intended to do with the GOP.

This is why Fred Thompson is wise like a fox and not entering the race too soon.

[ClearCase_guy]

The media wants the conservatives out of the race, pronto.

The media likes the big three: Giulinai and McCain will be easily destroyed, and Romney is an unelectable Mormon.

The media is full of optimism.

[dirtboy]

The early campaign's Big Three — McCain, Romney and Rudy — all performed well and avoided any deadly mistakes.

Rudy, however, showed that his comment last month about a strict constructionist being able to uphold Roe as precedent was not a slip of the tongue, but a held belief on his part.

And the abortion anaconda continues to coil tighter around Rudy's campaign.

[TChris]

I think this is a shrewd move, because the authentic McCain is the most impressive McCain to voters, even conservative primary voters.

Impressive? Umm... OK. Only if you count severe loathing in the "impressed" column.

I don't know anyone who thinks highly of McCain and isn't either A) a Liberal, B) a Journalist, or C) Both.

[oyez]

The most likely nominee wasn’t there.

[mdefranc]

Today’s CHANGED nomination probabilities, per Intrade contracts:

Rudy Giuliani 29.9% (-2.1%)
F Thompson 16.3% (+1.2%)
Mitt Romney 17.5% (+2.2%)
Ron Paul 0.4% (+0.2%)

[RightWhale]

I would like Brownback to ratchet it up a notch. Every now and then he seems to display real ability and solid thinking.

[bedolido]

[Just another Joe]

I thought that Mitt Romney gained the most from this 'debate'. Gulliani lost the most from it.

Duncan hunter probably gained the 2nd most from it just by getting some name recognition.
He inserted himself where appropriate and got his face into the public view.

Romney looked and sounded presidential. Gulliani definitely did not.

McCain just sounded angry, at every question.

Tommy Thompson was so stiff I thought he was going to break like a potato chip.

If Ron Paul had a snowballs chance of winning, I'd vote for him simply because I'd know exactly what I was getting.

The rest were pretty forgettable.

[HoustonTech]

Who won? See my tag line.

[Fred]

What is with having this liberal (pretending they are neutral) online rag, POLITICO, setting the questions and forum for the GOP debates??? How about next time we have NOW or The ACLU or EMILY LIST or CODE PINK run the next one???

Here is one of their buddy sites: Liberal Policy Dialogue Group

[Carry_Okie]

The early campaign's Big Three — McCain, Romney and Rudy — all performed well and avoided any deadly mistakes.

Memo to SeeBS: This is debate is for a Republican primary, not the general election. The consensus among conservatives is that Rudy bombed, Romney showed well without substance, and McCain couldn't save himself to save himself.

[Delphinium]

Each of the Big Three had their strong moments.

Showing me why not to vote for them.

[showme_the_Glory]

McCain, Romney and Rudy — all performed well wishfull thinking for McCain and Giuliani. Romney moped the floor with them based on performance. Hunter kills them all on substance.

[rmlew]

Isn’t Mike Murphy the guy who could barely keep MCain medicated in 2000 and screwed Lazio?